RETRO

Issue Seven

Classic Influence. Contemporary Style.

classic influence. contemporary style.

FRISKY & MANNISH

Introducing the pop parody pair

TOY CAMERAS
Plastic fantastic photography

FUNK
Visionary designer in focus

Presenting the gems of the future

LOUIS VUITTON
editor's letter
This issue, Retro’s been out
schmoozing with the fashionistas
at London Fashion Week. Despite
wading through bubbly and nibbly-
nobs we were at the front of the
catwalk to catch the 20’s drop-
waists; 70’s denim and the ‘urban
cowboy’ look; and the heritage
brands revisiting their cultural roots
(page 42). We were also rather
chuffed by the amount of industry
bigwigs who said they were big
fans of Retro. Thanks for the kind
words. Other great features this
month include an interview with
Frisky and Mannish whose unique
blend of cabaret comedy has been
gathering followers at a rapid
pace, Retro included (page 30).
We clicked with photographer,
Kevin Meredith, whose book Toy
Cameras is a stunning collection
of images taken from 40 simple
cameras (page 50). We shine a light
on the trendsetting girls, chosen for
Louis Vuitton’s Ar t Deco–inspired
jewellery shoot, who’ll be cutting a
sar torial dash throughout the year
(page 36). We also get down with 30 36
frisky and mannish

Dieter Funk, whose eponymous

range of eyewear has been a
spectacle for nearly 20 years
(page 60) and filling Retro’s cup to
brim this month, we finish with a
retrospective by Tjinder Singh from
louis vuitton

Cornershop (page 80).

Bruce Hudson
Editor
editor@theretrocollective.com
in this issue
26 Foot down as the Ferrari AT goes under the
hammer at RM Auctions 30 Getting playful with comedy burlesque duo
Frisky and Mannish

36 Jewel in the crown: A look at Louis Vuitton’s

objects of desire 42 From Polka dots to tar tan, the latest trends
from LFW’s front row

50 A bit of snap, crackle and pop from Toy

Cameras’ author Kevin Meredith 60 FUNK’s creator on why he’s made such a
spectacle of himself

66 There’s gold in them thar vinyls as 991 rifles

through our old records 80 Nipping out for some milk and a chat with
Cornershop’s Tjinder Singh

42 50 60
london fashion week

FUNK eyewear
toy cameras
five

Images cour tesy of Bill Gold Archive/Reel Ar t Press

THE TOP

1
Bill Gold: Poster Works
www.reelartpress.com

In 1942, a young man at Warner Bros. ar t

depar tment created a poster for the film,
Casablanca. Over the next 63 years, he would
make posters for more than 2000 films, and
create some of the most iconic images in
Hollywood. Bill Gold, now aged 89, is an avid
curator and archivist of his own work and has
just released a 450-page collection. Included
in the book are sketches, designs, notes and
photographs previously unseen to the public,
along with a foreword by friend and long-
term collaborator, Clint Eastwood.
2
Ray Caesar - Day Trip
(Ultrachrome ink on paper)
www.raycaesar.com

Ray Caesar’s dramatic-yet-serene

ar tworks reveal hidden depths the more
you look into his pictures, but as Ray
was actually born a dog (according to
his website biography) that’s not really
too surprising! Ar tist isn’t the obvious
career choice for a canine, par ticularly
with their dichromatic vision and lack
of thumbs, but this hasn’t noticeably
affected his work. His haunting creations
are littered with a surreal, almost
Narnia-esque quality. From the perilous
free fall of Calamity to the suave and
purposeful gaze of Day Trip, his works
predominantly feature straight-faced,
Elizabethan-styled children, whose
indignant stares and innocent charm
can’t help but make you think they’re up
to mischief. All in all, not a bad effor t
from a pooch.
3
Bill Cunningham New York, a film, by
Richard Press

Bill Cunningham, now in his eighties, is a

fashion photographer known for his candid
street photography in the York Times style
section. His images set the marker in the
genre and his fantastic eye, which captured
the essence of fashion trends before they hit
the mainstream, cut across social boundaries
from the famous – Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor
and David Rockefeller (who appear in the
film eulogising Cunningham’s influence)
– to eccentric wannabes and everybody
in between.
“The problem is I’m not a good
photographer,” Cunningham said in the
New York Times. “To be perfectly honest,
I’m too shy. Not aggressive enough. Well,
I’m not aggressive at all. I just loved to see
wonderfully dressed women, and I still do.
That’s all there is to it.”
This award-winning documentary captures
the ar tist’s sense of self-effacing grace and
powerful influence, as New York Vogue
editor Anne Wintour famously summarised
when she said: “We all get dressed for Bill.”
4
Light Cycle by Parker Brothers Choppers
www.parkerbrotherschoppers.com

Florida-based Parker Brothers Choppers have quite a habit of bringing the

best in fictional motoring to life. Over the years Marc and Shanon have
created Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds, KITT of Knight Rider fame, and
the Batpod from The Dark Knight. But once the world had been made
aware of the pair’s talents they found themselves facing a new challenge – to
top it.
Comic-book fan Shanon came across the idea for the Tron Light Cycle after
seeing a static model of the bike in a preview for the Disney remake at
Comic-Con. Three and a half months later, the project was finished.
Road-legal, the bike is constructed from steel frames, with fibreglass
bodywork and a Suzuki TLR-1000 V-twin engine, with the option of an iPad
dock to display essential info while you’re cruising around.
5
To celebrate two special events, we’ve selected
two very special drinks. Retro couldn’t choose
between them so we’ve decided to make them
equal fifth. Chin chin!
Jensen Gin
www.bermondseygin.com

Retro has found the perfect companion

for World Gin Day on June 12th
(www.facebook.com/GinDay): Jensen’s
Gin. After the initial success and
critical acclaim of London-Distilled Dry
Bermondsey Gin, Danish IT exper t
Christian Jensen, has launched an Old
Tom (the nickname for sweet gins of the
18th century) where sugar is added to
the mix. The Jensen’s Old Tom recreates
an original 1840’s recipe and delivers
an intense flavour so it can be quaffed
neat, with mixers, or in cocktails like
the Tom Collins or Mar tinez, which
were traditionally made with Old Tom.
A brilliant addition to the drinks cabinet.

Special Union Jack ‘Royal Wedding’ POP

Champagne
www.justerinis.com

POP, the first mini Champagne bottle to launch

in 1999, has established itself as a big hit on the
international par ty scene and Champagne Pommery
has produced this special Union Jack version for Will
and Kate’s big day. With its extra dry, elegant taste,
the range is made to the same high standard as their
cuvées, and was specially created by the Chef de
Cave to be consumed direct from the bottle or with
a straw – making it the perfect accompaniment to
the numerous street par ties being held in honour of
the occasion. Hic, hic, hooray!
 Nike+ SportWatch with GPS
£TBA
www.nike.com
Available from April, the GPS receiver,
combined with a shoe-based Nike+
sensor, delivers accurate pace and
distance data after a run. The watch
plugs in to a Mac or PC to display
information from the run, including total
miles, pace and elevation data. Runners
can then access a catalogue of running
routes along streets and trails around
the world, logged by Nike and published
by other runners. Each run is mapped
via TomTom and includes route notes,
elevation and length.
InspiredGadgets

Sony MDR EX600

$200
www.sony.com
Sony, once again, shows off its ability
to combine cutting-edge technology
with urban street cool. These come
with a multiple-layer diaphragm for the
driver unit, which prevents resonance
and delivers high-resolution sound. The
headphones produce a smooth bass with
clear and accurate sound reproduction.
 Bang & Olufsen BeoCom 2
£500
www.bang-olufsen.com
BeoCom 2 is crafted from a single piece of aluminium through a hydro-
forming technique that presses the telephone into its distinct moon-like
shape. The result is a durable one-piece telephone, without sharp edges
or unattractive joints. The BeoCom 2 comes with up to eight handsets,
all from one base, so you won’t miss a call wherever you are in the house.

B&W Zeppelin Air iPod Speaker with Apple AirPlay

£499
www.johnlewis.com
Bowers and Wilkins have taken the
sleek and curvaceous award-winning
Zeppelin iPod speaker system and added
the latest cutting-edge audio technology
to wirelessly stream music directly from your
iPhone, iPad and iPod. If you have more than one
Zeppelin Air, you can either choose an individual device
to play your music on, or select every Zeppelin Air in your
house for a synchronised house par ty.
Jarre Aerosystem iPod Dock & Speakers
€ 799
www.jarre.com
If you want state-of-the-ar t recording studio sound for your
lounge, then this totem poll of stainless steel and toughened
glass is for you. Produced by 70’s ambient synth maestro Jean
Michel Jarre and his team of sound engineers in France, the
sound system can accept all digital formats and incorporates
an electronic signal circuit, tailor-made to reproduce both the
bass line and high notes with optimal precision. Envelop yourself
in a wall of sound as you breathe in the Oxygene of musical
delight in your front room.

Polaroid Grey Label Range

£TBA
www.polaroid.com
Polaroid, in collaboration with its
new Creative Director, Lady Gaga,
have unveiled the Polaroid Grey
Label – which includes the GL30
Instant Digital camera (pictured
right). Polaroid has a long-standing
tradition of innovation which Lady
Gaga added her creative genius
to: “I brought my vision and love of
fashion, technology and obsession
with the future in to all of my work
with Polaroid.”
Onkyo Stereo
£2,500
www.eu.onkyo.com
In the 80s, Onkyo were critically acclaimed
for their cassette tape decks, M-series
amplification, turntables and AM/FM
tuners including the T-909 and T-9990.
In a major return to form Onkyo has
launched the M-5000R with meticulous
signal quality preserved by new AWRAT
technology and amplifiers, incorporating
a totally symmetrical alignment of power
devices for left and right channels.
 Normann Copenhagen Cognac Glasses
£33
www.normann-copenhagen.com
Rikke Hagen, the designer of these chic glasses,
cut the “irritating stem” off to maximise the
bouquet and temperature of the Cognac. He
wanted them to “give the user the feeling of a
gentleman’s study and at the same time, the
sense of calmness you get from fondling a stone.”
Just remember, when you’ve finished drinking,
not to throw them into the sea.
InspiredLifestyle

Gramophone Chair
£999
www.johnlewis.com
Upholstered in semi-aniline Vintage
Diego leather this sophisticated
chair is decorated with stitch
detailing and sits on a polished
aluminium base. Perfect for
the drawing room with your
Cognac (see above) and a cigar.
Vinyl Bookends
£20
www.urbanoutfitters.com
Tidy up your bookshelf with
these natty little 45s. As they’re
all originals, the record you get
sent might differ from the one
on the Urban Outfitters site.
What’s the betting we end up
with Cliff Richard when it arrives
at Retro HQ?

Retromodern Furniture
£POA
www.retromodern.com.au
Retromodern restores and recycles mid-century
furniture by breathing life into your designs. You can
choose from one of their unrestored pieces or send them
a photo of your own mid-century piece for a quote.
Each is restored and altered to your taste to bring out
the best possible appearance. A great idea delivered to
perfection judging by the magazine table above.
 LA design studio “Spirit of 427”
£POA
www.la-ds.com
The Spirit of 427 collection, launched by Polish company
LA design studio, is inspired by the legendary American
spor ts car from the 60s. The collection uses the original
collector car par ts such as bumpers, fuel inlets, and lights,
as well as genuine leather from Bentley and Ferrari
factory stencils. Each sofa requires 400 to 500 hours of
manual work. The sofas have been critically acclaimed,
with Paul Siodmok, a former designer of the DBS at
Aston Mar tin, describing the range as “beautifully crafted
and exquisitely executed – furniture that is truly unique,
and a masterpiece of bespoke design and engineering”.
All items from the collection are tailor-made with all
(excluding the standing lamp) marked with a unique
plate containing the serial number and name of the first
owner.
Delivery times range from eight to 24 weeks depending
on the size of the commission.
 Whitby Wallpaper
£45
www.minimoderns.co.uk
Mini Moderns designers Keith Stephenson and
Mark Hampshire both spent their childhood
holidays on the rugged Nor th Yorkshire
coastline. This collaboration captures the
pair’s memories of the vibrancy of Whitby’s
working fishing harbour. The designers
agreed using a linocut style “offered the
perfect way of expressing the movement
of the waves and the ruggedness of the
coastline we know so well.”
The wallpaper comes in 10m x 52cm rolls
printed with water-based inks on paper from
sustained forests.

1950’s Danish suite by Love Vintage Furniture

£2850 Photo: Josh Love
www.lovevintagefurniture.com Furniture from a range at Love Vintage Furniture

This stylish 1950’s Finn Juhl-style suite was recently

featured in an Elle Decoration adver tisement. Fully
reupholstered using Designers Guild Brera linen in
contrasting grey expresso and acid green alchemilla this
combines beauty with comfor t. What better place to
put your feet up and relax?
 Big Chill Stove
$1395
www.bigchillfridge.com
Don’t you wish you could cook just like Mum
used to? With one of these 50’s-style gas
ovens, made by Colorado company Big Chill,
there will no longer be any excuses. As the
names suggests they star ted out designing
fridges that “dared to come out of hiding
and in to the limelight”– and the range now
includes retro dishwashers and these ovens
which are also available in Pink Lemonade
and Buttercup Yellow. Now where’s me
pinny, it’s time to make some cupcakes!

John Rocha Black Cut Champagne Flutes

£90
www.johnrocha.ie
John Rocha studied fashion in London in the 70s,
moved to Dublin in the 80s, and was named Designer
of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 1993.
His affinity with Irish culture led to his par tnership
with Waterford Crystal in 1997 and the critically
acclaimed Signature, Geo and Imprint ranges, his first
foray outside of design, followed. These Black Cut
champagne flutes dramatically expand the collection
and are a real conversation piece.
InspiredMotoring

F or racing and Ferrari enthusiasts the 0224 AT has all the desirable requirements
for collectors – a successful racing history, eligibility for the world’s most desirable
events (Mille Miglia included), well-known provenance (only 10 owners from new),
rarity, and a light, attractive body combined with Lampredi-designed V-12, capable
of stunning performance.
The most successful of the 1952 Panamericana Ferrari team cars, the AT finished in
third place at the La Carrera Panamericana Mexican road race, renowned as the
most dangerous road race in the world. Twenty-seven competitors were killed on
the newly completed Panamerican highway, and it’s doubtful anyone kept track of
spectator fatalities.
Despite this dark history, Mr Nicklin, who put the car up for auction, described the
0224 AT as being “as much fun as I’ve ever had in the car collecting world.”
And he would have had a huge smile on his face when the AT 0224 exceeded its
pre-sale estimate to sell for an extraordinary $4,290,000 at the Amelia Island auction
on 12th March.

Photo cour tesy of RM Auctions

Ferrari 0224 AT
Sold by RM Auctions for

$4,290,000

did the at make the top five world

record sale price at auction?
turn the page to find out
top 5 Record Breaking Cars at Auction
1
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa RM Auctions
May-09 $12,402,500

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Cal Spyder RM Auctions

2 May-08 $10,894,400

3 1931 Bugatti Royale Type 41 Christie’s

Nov-87 $9,800,000

1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM RM Auctions

4 May-07 $9,281,250

5 RM Auctions Oct-07 $8,252,201

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster

2
RM Auctions May 08

$10,894,400
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Cal Spyder
 Photos cour tesy of RM Auctions

1
RM Auctions May 09

$12,402,500
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

4
RM Auctions May 07

$9,281,250
1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM
Stand & De
eliver
Despite their act consistently being dubbed
‘indescribable’, musical comedy duo Frisky and
Mannish have been wowing critics the world over.
Danielle Colyer discovers why this pair, known
to their mate Kate Nash as Laura Corcoran and
Matthew Jones, are sure to keep climbing the
comedy tree.
 “ Our sound guy has more
groupies than us. The
ladies love Barry ”
How would you describe your act in
three words?
Po p m u s i c y - s e r i o co mi c - m a s h p a r o d i c -
s t e r e o p h o n i c - LO U D - v a u d e v i l l i a n -
sketchcabaret-throwbackcurrent-oldfangled-
newfashioned-bapsbotty-infotainment, or
thereabouts.
How did you meet?
We were both studying literature degrees at
Oxford University, but spending most of our
time prancing about in musicals and sketch
comedy shows.
Your name comes from a poem [Byron’s
Don Juan] – what made you choose this?
It was the first page that opened, in the first
book we pulled off our shelves, when we
were choosing a name!
Why and how did you get in to comedy?
We were performing on the cabaret/
burlesque circuit for a year or so, and though
we aimed to be funny we didn’t consider
ourselves comedy, strictly speaking. But when
we decided to take a show to Edinburgh we
had to choose a section to list the show in.
Comedy seemed the nearest to what we do,
and is really where all the fun things live. So
then we were getting the attention of the
comedy reviewers, promoters and agents,
and suddenly we found ourselves on the
terrifying stand-up circuit. We had to learn
pretty fast, and our style quickly adapted to
a comedy audience’s high expectations.
Who, or what, is your greatest influence?
Our show is all about influences, and they
range ridiculously widely. But in terms of
comedy, we’ve been influenced, if just by
deep love, by Eddie Izzard, South Park, The
Simpsons, Tenacious D, Julia Davis and The
League of Gentlemen.
As stylish fashionistas are we more likely
to see you in Prada or Primark?
Which ever one sends us free clothes. Given
Primark is practically free, mainly Primark.
But our stage wear is more bespoke. Those
Primani things wouldn’t last a show.
You take a lot of influence from music,
who are your top three bands/artists?
Rihanna, the Queen of ‘Eh’; Gaga, the Queen
of ‘WTF?’; and Kate Bush, the Queen of
Everything.
What is on your rider?
Our rider is far too restrained. Recently we
performed in Per th and other performers
had everything from fruit, savoury snacks
and wine to Chihuahuas. That’s not even
a joke.
Have you been stalked by a fan yet? Do
you have groupies?
We positively encourage stalking in all its
forms – we have a whole song dedicated
to it. Which is possibly why we haven’t been
stalked yet, though, obviously, any stalking
will be met with legal action.
 “ Going to the Sydney
Opera House and calling
it ‘work’ was pretty
unbelievable”
We have some faithful fans who come to There is a lot of reference in your work
gigs all over the place, but our sound guy to singer Kate Nash. How often does
has more groupies than us. The ladies she pop round for tea?
love Barry. She doesn’t return our calls. But she’s not
suing us, so we’re very grateful.
What has been your proudest moment
to date? What has been the best gig you
It would be a toss up between a couple have played?
of things – going to the Sydney Opera Reviving our first breakthrough show, School
House and calling it ‘work’ was pretty of Pop, in Edinburgh, 2010. A lot of people
unbelievable. It was our first ever Australian had been there the previous year and were
performance, and we ran the show there for rooting for us. Never has an audience been
two weeks. It’s definitely a time we’ll never so quick to their feet to dance, and we even
forget. Similarly, performing our Christmas had to ask them to reign in the singing along
shows at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury so we could do our jokes. The reaction at
Avenue are completely amazing. The last the end was simply overwhelming.
one included an Inbetweener, and we get
the chance to book our favourite acts, You recently appeared with Robin Ince
which makes the whole night both fun and as part of Nine Lessons and Carols for
quite special. Godless People – do you ever worry
the Gods might punish you for this?
What’s the worst job you’ve done Depends entirely on the God(s) in question.
before Frisky and Mannish? Aphrodite loves our shit; Jupiter likes little
Matthew worked at Chessington World of boys, so Mannish has got us a free pass
Adventures and had to tell fat people to get there; Ganesh has always been a fan of
off the rides. It’s actually called a Code LP – a good belter; Ra digs the red hair; and
Code “Large Person”. Good code. Yaweh, don’t you worry, we’ve been keeping
him sweet.
Who would you play if you made an
Eastenders spin-off? Just to annoy you…tell us your
Frisky would doubtless be Barbara favourite joke.
Windsor, and Mannish probably Pam Knock knock. Who’s there? Gina G. Gina G
St Clement. who? Well, that’s show business.

Frisky & Mannish are currently on tour throughout the UK.

Visit www.friskyandmannish.co.uk for details
Images cour tesy of Paul Schmitt &
Ber trand Bozon/Louis Vuitton

L ouis Vuitton launched its
Spring/Summer fashion
jewellery range for 2011,
with 16 rising stars from
around the globe meeting
for a one-off photo shoot in
Paris. The girls modelled four
lines of costume jewellery
inspired by Ar t Deco design
and 60’s colours. The
collection features acrylic
set ornaments, paste-
jewels and Damier Perle
beading, and the results are
stunning. Retro introduces
eight of Louis Vuitton’s latest
VIP friends.
Our cover star is Mohini
Geisweiller has a growing
fan base in Europe since
releasing her subtle blend
of after-hours electronic
UNKNOWN PLEASURES
pop. Her debut single Milk
Teeth, taken from an EP
of the same name, acts as
an introduction to her first
solo album Event Horizon
due out later this year. The
single’s surreal video acts
as a perfect backdrop for
the gentle warmth of her
voice – hinting she could
well be France’s answer to
Imogen Heap.
Alka Balbir (left) starred
in Le Bureau (the French
version of The Office)
alongside veteran actor
François Berléand, has
made a name for herself
as a singer and model, and
appeared in the lookbook for
the collaboration between
adidas and French ar tist Fafi.
 Parisian DJ Clara 3000 star ted out as an
intern at Ed Banger Records, and has now
evolved into an ar tist in her own right,
performing all over the world. Her notorious
DJ sets cross between house, disco and
electro with an eye always on the dancefloor
to ensure the beats keep the joint jumping.

Billie Por ter is a jack of all trades, having dabbled in journalism,

blogging, music promotion and modelling all by the tender
age of 18. She’s nailed some big interviews (including Snoop
Dogg and Justice) working for NME, Vice, and Dazed &
Confused, and is a regular face in French style bible Jalouse.
Most recently she has turned to documentary-making;
presenting Channel 4’s The Joy of Teen Sex.
Images cour tesy of Paul Schmitt &
Ber trand Bozon/Louis Vuitton

Alexandra Richards, daughter of Rolling Stone Keith, is a DJ, ar tist and model.
She’s been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar and Jalouse, and recently
posed nude in a retro-inspired shoot for French Playboy. Despite her heritage,
Alexandra and older sister Theodora have been described as the ‘anti-Hilton
sisters’ because of their rejection of the par ty lifestyle.
 Images cour tesy of Paul Schmitt &
Ber trand Bozon/Louis Vuitton

London aristocrat Mary Char teris first shot to fame at the age of 15 when Isabella Blow
described her as the new face of fashion. Mary’s aunt, Daphne Guinness, took her to several
fashion shows in Paris, and over the next eight years she made a name for herself as a model
in Jalouse and Vogue. Mary has since moved on to study fashion at Parsons, New York, and has
plans to become a designer.
The more fashion-conscious among tennis fans
were voicing their concerns about wardrobe
faults at this year’s Australian Open, and it would
seem that Louis Vuitton has also been keeping an
eye out for the new Anna Kournikova. They’ve
tipped bright, young, New York-based Daria
Schieferstein as one to watch, both on and off
the cour t. She may not be a household name yet,
but it can’t be far off.

Born in New York City, Annabelle Dexter-Jones is the

daughter of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and writer/
socialite Ann Dexter-Jones. She’s modelled for Hogan
and strutted her stuff on the catwalk for half-sister
Charlotte Ronson’s eponymous clothing line. Currently
carving out a niche in acting, French magazine Jalouse
described her as being “far from just beautiful”.
Retro nabbed a front row seat at London Fashion Week. Here’s our prediction of the
hottest trends, most influential designers and best moments from the glam fest.

S tudio 54’s ritzy, kitschy influence can still be seen on the catwalk but a softer, less edgy,
70’s autumnal breeze drifted through Somerset House as tan, burnt orange and mustard
yellow proliferated. With crushed velvet, tie-dye and lamé also making a comeback (actually
when was lamé ever out of fashion?), Retro also glimpsed a widening of the trouser leg in a hint
that flares are back, combined with groovy denim shir ts. Look out, the urban cowboy’s back!
Tweed, corduroy and tar tan are in vogue as the major heritage brands reinterpreted classic
looks. Mulberry teamed up corduroy suits with long socks while more contemporary designers
like Ashish went for edgier interpretations of plaid. But once again, Westwood was Queen
V in Retro’s eyes with a wickedly cool depiction of Londoners using red, tar tan prints and
woolen pieces cut in trademark jaunty angles. Expect to see the flapper look back, par ticularly
drop-waisted 1920’s dresses, which will also influence contemporary dress waistlines.
DA
VID
embellished
koma
Georgian-born David Koma’s heavily
statement dresses
projected the designer on to the
international stage at an early age,
with his graduate collection of sculptural
dresses earning him the Harrods
Design Award in 2009. This year his
spectacular show at London Fashion
Week was inspired by sinister forests,
Tim Bur ton and hallucinations. The
collection was dark but punctuated
with explosive splashes of red, gold and
green, and the chameleon designer’s
outfits, already worn by Lady Gaga,
Beyonce and Alicia Keys, will continue
to set the trends.
2011/12 TRENDSETTERS

FELI
CITY BROWN
One of last season’s biggest hits, Felicity
Brown, returned with a collection of high-
voltage glamour inspired by Picasso’s ballet
illustrations. The pieces felt sophisticated
but with a contrasting tribal element, and
included ruffles with up to sixty layers of
silk. When asked to describe the Felicity
Brown woman, the London-based designer
replied: “A leading lady in an old black
and white film. My ideal customer shares
this elegance; she’s natural and embraces
fabric.”
 LOU
ISE GRAY
Winner of the New Talent Award at
the Scottish Fashion Awards in 2007,
this was Louise Gray’s fifth consecutive
season at London Fashion Week,
during which time she has built up a
label based on boldly textured, brightly
coloured garments, where nothing is
quite what it seems. Louise’s Autumn/
Winter 2011 collection was inspired by
“the young, the streets and the bold”.
Her creative use of colour, texture,
hand silk screening and embroidery
has been used in collaborations with
Cotton USA, Nicholas Kirkwood and
the Smiley Company among others.
NA
SIRMAZHAR
Nasir Mazhar cer tainly likes to create something
people will talk about, and this season’s offerings
were no exception. His Autumn/Winter 2011
collection – inspired by London culture, the animal
kingdom and S&M – opened with a model in an
orange fur trapper hat, followed by a girl in a pink
veil topped with a white tiger-print cap. This set
the tone for the rest of the show, a cacophony of
remarkable and inventive headwear, alongside
varied use of materials and body paint.
WAL
PLANK
THE
KING
London Fashion Week has always been surrounded by controversy, whether it be a stylist
flouncing off in a huff because a designer is using normal-sized models (Mark Fast, 2010) or
battles over encroaching schedules (New York Fashion Week & LFW, 2008). This year the
outrage honours went to label Meadham Kirchhoff for their anarchic catwalk. Keeping the
fashionista waiting, cluttering the stage and avoiding timed choreography may put editors and
photographers’ noses out of joint, but according to João Paulo Nunes, it crowns the dynamic
duo catwalk champions of the world.

O n the last day of the womenswear shows

at London Fashion Week, as buyers and
press star ted to display signs of exhaustion,
the sar torial ground cracked with a resounding
thud in Meadham Kirchhoff’s runway show for
Autumn/Winter 2011/12. After making hundreds
of key buyers and editors (including Hamish
Bowles from Vogue and Stefano Tonchi from W
magazine) wait while sipping champagne and
listening to soft music amidst the faded Victorian
grandeur of the Old Billingsgate Market, the
designing duo shocked them to the core. The
soothing vocal jazz gave way to instrumental
horror film music in a show entitled ‘I Am a Lie
that Tells the Truth’ that could not have lasted
longer than two minutes and cleverly avoided
being about fashion as we know it.
Traditionally, the runway shows at fashion
weeks are usually about waiting: shows never
star t on time, and most people wait in queues
to get in, followed by more waiting while
seated. Once they star t, shows tend to last
between 10 and 15 minutes, with only one or
two models taking to the runway at the same
time. This timed choreography is designed to
allow audiences to pay attention to the details
in garments, footwear and accessories and give
photographers ample oppor tunity to take shots
from several angles. In their show, Meadham
 Kirchhoff subver ted these rules by making models

meadham
KIRCHHOFF
parade with no interval and just two or three metres
in between them. In addition, if designers and stylists
spend a considerable amount of time and money
booking popular models, the winning duo of the

REMINDED Emerging Talent (Ready-to-Wear) award at the

THE
British Fashion Awards 2010 chose to use unfamiliar

audience
faces to parade their garments.
In a fashion week where most designers relied on
PR agencies to get celebrities on to front rows, and

FASHION played safe by resor ting to very similar trends (such

THAT

ISFIRST
as leather, fur, feathers, asymmetric sleeves, diagonal
draping over the body, orange, maroon, dark blue,
and the eternal black), Meadham Kirchhoff reminded
the audience that fashion is, first and foremost,

FOREMOST
AND

about pushing the boundaries of creativity. This was

a show where male and female models were clad
with blankets, and thick knitted jumpers and leggings
ABOUTPUSHING in black and white alternated with double-breasted

BOUNDARIES dresses, ethnic gypsy blouses, white lace shir ts, and
THE

OF CREativity
deconstructed bright red tweed jackets that evoked
the irreverent spirit of Coco Chanel and how she
saw fashion as impor tant social commentary.
Fur thermore, in a puzzling world where tickets for
runway shows are as coveted as gold, and fashion
editors are regarded as celebrities, organising a
display that cannot be analysed or photographed in
the slightest is an intelligent, albeit risky, move. Up to
the advent of augmented vir tual communication via
social networking websites and blogs, fashion shows
used to be put together for buyers and press in a
process that used to be everything but democratic.
Nowadays, as images from the runways are
streamed live on to screens all over the globe, being
able to think about fashion and analyse its creativity
tends to be reduced to the image, the celebrity
and the vacuous comment. There is no doubt that
Meadham Kirchhoff’s show must have per turbed
many photographers and editors. However, once
the initial anger has dissipated, this fashion show
will go down in history not only as the day when
sar torial displays changed but also as a reminder
that Meadham Kirchhoff are a talented duo that are
in the fashion business for the long run. As creative
designers, on 22 February 2011, the duo cemented
their position as inventors of ingenious garments for
those who truly appreciate them.

For this and other ar ticles by João Paulo Nunes, visit www.worldmanabouttown.com
From Russia with love
 All images cour tesy of Kevin Meredith, taken from
Toy Cameras (RotoVision)

Over the past decade, armed with a bag of compact

cameras, Kevin Meredith has been shooting
LOMO-inspired images all over the globe. He has
worked with names as big as Dr Mar tens, Dell and
Imogen Heap, yet remains committed to teaching
others about the simple ar t of photography.
His new book, Toy Cameras, presents a unique
collection of images captured by “fantastic plastic”
Pop-Tar ts Camera cameras. Bruce Hudson meets the man behind
the camera.
I
’m brushing the raindrops from Coloursplash Camera
my trilby when Brighton-based
photographer Kevin Meredith
sweeps into the city centre café
we’ve arranged to meet in. I instantly
recognise ‘lomokev’ from his Twitter
page, where in his avatar, he’s kitted
out in an army officer’s overcoat and
cap. For tunately, when he turns and
we greet, he doesn’t clasp me in a bear
hug or attempt to ply me with vodka,
instead what flows over the next
hour is his love of photography and,
in par ticular, cameras. Kevin has just
published Toy Cameras and on seeing
the name you could be mistaken that
the book, like the 40 cameras Kevin
uses in it, is a disposable bit of fun.
But the images captured are simply
stunning and the range of styles and
depth deliver a visual smorgasbord
that both seasoned professionals and
click-and-hope photographers (like me)
will marvel at. Kevin takes the ar t of
snapping pictures seriously, one could
almost say (harking back to his Twitter
page), with military precision. He
never leaves home without a camera,
he teaches photography classes, and
he lectures for industry bigwigs at
companies like Google.
For Kevin, photography clicked
into place at a young age. “I passed
[my GCSEs] and decided to go to ar t
college. You get a list of things you
have to buy and one of those was a
camera.” Having bought a very simple
SLR he was able to learn the basics
like aper ture and shutter speeds and
he never looked back. Kevin star ted
taking pictures at raves and his first
break was working for Et ernity (an
underground hardcore drum‘n’bass
magazine). “I was 18 years old, I had
a pager and they’d contact me on
a Friday, with a rave to go to. They
were paying me 50 quid a night which
back then was a lot of money. It was
amazing. Happy days!” Blackbird, Fly

Kevin went on to do a degree in graphic design
and adver tising: “I went down the design route
and strangely didn’t include photography in my
work. It was more something I did for fun. In my
second year I went on a trip to New York and
took my SLR camera, but I didn’t want to take it
out at night in case I lost it.”
After hearing about a new compact camera
through his circle of friends and reading ar ticles in
i-D magazine Kevin hotfooted it up to London, to
the rather grand-sounding Lomographic Embassy
to buy one: “It was a cross between a junk shop
and a design studio, everybody in there was
Holga CFN 120
chain-smoking and there was a guy called Fabian,
who was a designer, but he was also the contact
for selling LOMO in the UK.”
Kevin received a quick introduction to the
camera from Fabian. “He took your address
and then put you on their mailing list. And you’d
get invites to all their par ties and that was the
camera I took to on my second trip to New York
the following year in 1999. It was so liberating to
have this compact.”
When Kevin left university he had three job
offers on the table which he astutely points out is
“just nuts thinking about now”.
GoPro Wide HERO

Spinner 360°
 He accepted a job with animation company
Studio AKA. But prior to taking the position Kevin
had entered the London LOMO Olympics, a
photography competition, in which Kevin finished
second out of around a hundred entries. “It was
actually joint first,” he points out, “but they did a
countback!” For tunately for Kevin they took the
top two to Tokyo for the world finals. It coincided
with his second week at Studio AKA: “I had to say
I’m sorry about this but I’ve been given this great
oppor tunity to go to Tokyo. I’ve got to go. They
were like okay, but we’re not going to pay it as
holiday pay!”
Day One consisted of photographic hunting
and gathering; Day Two the photographers
were deposited in the Tokyo fish market at 3am
with the task of shooting just three rolls of film,
freestyle, in a set time period; which meant by
Day Three the numbers were whittled down
to twenty with the finalist shooting specifically
orchestrated events.
Kevin made the cut and subsequently finished
second overall behind a Norwegian entry. A great
achievement to have on your résumé. “Well a bit
left-field,” he admits, “and in reality it’s all very
low-key, they announced the winners in a bar.
But it’s a great fun. It taught me photography
doesn’t have to be all serious, you can have fun
and games with it.”
After leaving Studio AKA Kevin went freelance,
mostly designing websites, but always taking
photos. He joined Flickr in 2004 and has built
up a following of over 15,000 with 12m page
views. “There’s a point where it snowballed
and now I have people adding me as a contact
every day. It’s bizarre. I get most work through
Flickr; it’s never that they’ve found me through
lomokev.com!”
Kevin has also branched out into teaching with
refresher photography classes where he explains
various photographic techniques, qualities and
effects. He’s taken the lessons learnt from the
LOMO Olympics into his career as a teacher: “I try
to bring the fun element into the classes I teach.”
He believes photography and in par ticular getting
to grips with a digital SLR and understanding
the technical aspects of the camera can be
overwhelming. “The great thing about handing
someone a LOMO LC-A is that the only thing you
Diana F+, cross-processed
Ultronic Panoramic
need to think about before you take a photo is
how far your subject is away from you.” Kevin’s Lomo LC-A
classes are extremely popular, with attendees
often travelling hundreds of miles to attend.
“I held one in San Francisco and somebody
travelled from Hawaii.”
Kevin reaches below the table, pulls out
a LOMO LC-A from a bag and goes in to
teacher mode, enthusing over the simplicity
of the settings and I realise even a novice, like
me, could come to grips with this wonderfully
simple camera. It’s this approach that makes
Toy Cameras so accessible, knowing that you
can achieve comparable images without any
major training. However, although the LOMO
LC-A can be shot in the dim light we get in the
UK, the toy cameras used in the book are not so
hardy. So to complete the book Kevin had the
arduous task of shooting most of the images in
Barcelona and Los Angeles. He then gives me
a steer on his favourites from the book which
include the Blackbird, Fly, Kalimar Action Shot
16 and the Spinner 360° “but you can also get
the Pop Tar ts camera [which came free with
Pop Tar ts in 2003] for as little as £2.50 on
eBay!” That leads to us talking about the Lego Lomo LC-A
camera, which you can add bricks to as you
take photos. How cool is that! Not as cool, I Diana F+
realise as we depar t the cafe and head into the
horizontal rain, as getting paid to shoot a book
on disposable cameras in the beautiful sunshine
of Barcelona and Los Angeles.

For further information about Kevin’s books, classes and

photography, visit www.lomokev.com
OPTICA
 FUNK, the grooviest-named eyewear
company on the planet was launched by

AL ILLUSION the grooviest named guy, Dieter Funk.

Retro spoke to the FUNKmeister about
the brand’s impact since landing his
specs-tacular Mothership in Germany
almost twenty years ago.
 To par ty to: Digitalism, Pogo

Which designers/artists do you find inspiring?

James Brown, Keith Haring and Andy Warhol.

Do you collect anything?

Vinyl records.

Do you have a favourite market? And shop?

Some smaller, individual shops in Berlin-Mitte and Berlin-
Friedrichshain.

What inspired you to launch FUNK and why did Is there anything you couldn’t live without?
you choose eyewear? I couldn’t be without music, as it’s one of the most
During my apprenticeship as an optician, there was impor tant things in my life. That’s the reason I’m still
nothing in the eyewear market that I really liked, so I DJing.
decided to design my own frames.
Is there anything you regret?
What are FUNK’s future plans, and what new There is nothing I regret – everything I’ve done, it
ranges are in the pipeline? doesn’t matter what, had sense…even if it didn’t make
FUNK will always try to be ahead of the trends; right sense the moment after I did it!
now we are developing big, fat metal frames in our own
distinct style. If you could live anywhere in the world where
would it be?
What eras do FUNK sunglasses take their influence Where my home is right now, in a small village in the
from? south of Germany, surrounded by lots of nice, tolerant
FUNK is influenced by all eras of the last century and we people. They accept my little follies and they are very
transpor t the range in to the present time. honest. I travel a lot, so see many different cultures
and philosophies, but I always come back to my base
Are you a big fan of funk music? in our old farm house where I am able to live with my
Yes, you could say so. A few years back, for five creativity.
years, I ran a little funk club called Wax Hi-Fi,
in Munich. Who or what has had the biggest influence on the
way you live your life?
What track would you put on to chill out to and Music and girls.
one to get the party started?
At the moment, to chill to: Nina Simone, Who or what do you think FUNK has influenced?
See-Line Woman (Masters at Work remix). Again – music and girls!
If you could have dinner anywhere in the world
where would it be and what would you eat?
When I was 14, I was on a trip with my parents in the
Sahara Deser t and a man invited us to his home to
have dinner together with his family. It was in a big hole
in the ground, and that hole was surrounded by little
rooms, like caves. The people were so nice and the food
was so good that I wish I could be there again.
And finally, if you could live in any decade/period,
which one would you choose and why?
From the 70s until today, like I do. The reason is that
we live in a decade where we have everything –
freedom, tolerance, a touch of future – but the most
impor tant thing is we can do what we want and this
is a privilege a lot of people still don’t have. I hope this
changes and I am able to see it in my lifetime.
Retro checks out some of
the more funkadelic dates in
FUNK’s historical timeline.

1992 Launch of FUNK.

1994 Development of the first collection

including 17 styles which incorporate
a new type of silicone rubber coating.
The coating is applied by a technology
unique to FUNK.

1995 Introduction of the first collection

of FUNKsunglasses at special
optical fairs such as Interjeans of
Cologne, 40° of London and Optica of
Cologne. Traditional visitors express
incomprehension – even dismay – at
styles such as Mask.

1996 The collection is exhibited at The

International Sports Business Network
Exhibition (ISPO) in Munich. This begins
a successful marketing campaign in to
the sport and fitness markets. Munich is
witness to the birth of the now-legendary
FUNK-ISPO parties.

1998 The third generation of the

FUNKsunglasses collection is born.
Aviator styles and graduated colours are
the highlights of this collection.
2005 Mr. Funk, inspired by the 50s and Marilyn
Monroe, conjures up styles named Tussi,
Crumpet and Broad de Luxe. The new
collection includes oversize and retro styles
in metal and acetate combinations. The range
is described as “a journey back in time, from
the golden 20s into the 50s and the funky 70s
with a twist of the weird 80s”.
2004 The 80s are back with oversize and colourful
aviator styles.
2003 FUNK starts the year with the launch of some
extreme styles: Horny, Scum and Pervert. At
the ISPO fair in August, FUNKwear presents
a first look at an extremely provocative shirt
collection. FUNKwear exports are banned by
some countries.
2002 In February the infamous FUNK-party becomes
the official ISPO-party with around 2500
people in attendance.
2001 Introduction of the first prescription eyewear
collection called FUNKroyal optics. The
exclusive eyewear is a handcrafted collection
of styles cut from cotton acetate and includes
an innovative feather-hinged lever action.
2000 FUNKsunglasses is established as a designer
brand with two updated collections being
released each year.
1999 FUNK presents the first FUNKgoggles for
skiing and snowboarding.
2006 FUNKsunglasses styles Beast, Grand Duke
and Dynasty launch as an homage to 80’s
soaps Dallas, Falcon Crest and Dynasty.
2007 FUNK presents a variety of retro styles at
the OPTI fair in Munich. Dieter Funk claims
he has his “very own time-travel machine
with buttons and dials that twist and turn
the styles of the 50s and 60s screaming into
the here and now”.
2008 The FUNKroyal collection is greatly
influenced by nerd or geek chic, with massive
optical frames of the 80s twisted in to new
designs. The range welcomes the addition of
10 new styles, inspired by health insurance
frames.
2009 The house of FUNK, an in-house start-to-finish
production line, opened in the cosy Bavarian
village of Kinsau. Here you can rock up to the
specialised optical store and buy the latest
designs hot off the FUNK production line.
2010 Sixty new styles are released with
the FUNKroyal collection welcoming
FUNKroyal-titan: massive frames in classic
70s/80s style cut from blocks of titanium.
For more info visit:
www.funk-eyewear.com
 hunters & colle
The world’s largest collection of vinyl and memorabilia has been
amassed by UK-based 991. Jay Williams talks to childhood friends,
and founders of 991 Rob Croydon and Julian Thomas, and discovers
rifling through your dusty old record collection may be worth more
than just a trip down memory lane

ectors
W elcome to the Deep South,
where vinyl records are still
king. But surprisingly, we’re not
talking Memphis in the US, but
Meopham in Kent, near the south
coast of England. Here you’ll find
a warehouse crammed with ultra-
rare albums by bands ranging from
Abba to ZZ Top, MC5 to Blink 182.
This is the HQ of 991, a company
with the world’s largest turnover
of collectible vinyl and memorabilia,
which star ted as a pocket-money
playground project run by two
childhood pals back in the 80s and
now turns over £1.5 million a year.
Rob Croydon and Julian Thomas
have recently seen a boom in
investment from collectors, some
of whom have moved from the
volatile stocks and shares market
to the more reliable returns of
early, mint recordings by the likes
of Elvis and The Rolling Stones.
Exper ts in jazz, rock’n’roll, heavy
metal and classical flock to wade
Photo: John Shepherd-Jones
through packages sent by vendors
wanting to cash in on their
collections. Interest in the rock
stalwar ts is unshakeable, but even
in the world of second-hand vinyl,
trends come and go (the company
has experienced an inexplicable
40% rise in rare jazz sales over the
last year, for instance). But before
you rush to the attic to dig out
your old Haircut 100 12” singles or
prog rock triple albums, take some
advice from the exper ts.
What was your first sale?

Rob: “It was a 16-minute 12” remix of Relax by Frankie Goes to

Hollywood, which I bought for a couple of quid and sold in the
school playground for £20 in around 1985.”

Are rare records really a viable investment compared to

stocks and shares?

“Unlike stocks and shares, which have had a pretty unsettled time
over the last couple of years, the collectible vinyl market is stable. A
mint copy of a scarce single by The Beatles from the early 60s, for
instance, can be wor th way more than its weight in gold.”

How did you go from the playground to the number one

player in the market?

“We set up in business in 1986, from our respective bedrooms. We

went without holidays for six years and ploughed all the money
we made from our jobs – me from working in Stock Exchange
settlements in the city and Julian as a commercial estate agent – in
to the company.

“We spent years trudging around record fairs and second-hand

shops building up our vinyl collection. We took on staff gradually.
We now employ more than 40 people in Meopham and we have
agents in the USA and Japan, hunting down rarities and selling to a
growing clientele of private collectors.”

What have been your most memorable acquisitions?

Julian: “One of my biggest coups was when a punk fan rang up

offering to sell a ‘holy grail’ item – The Sex Pistols’ God Save The
Queen single, which was released on A&M Records in 1977 and
then immediately withdrawn from sale.

“It’s wor th up to £10,000 with its original promotional material.

I bought the single for an undisclosed amount. The seller then
casually said: ‘Oh, if you’re interested, I’ve got six more copies.’
Needless to say, I snapped them up!”

The company has tens of thousands of records, CDs, tapes,

autographed items and other memorabilia in its warehouse
Headquar ters.
 Current valuable vinyl in stock includes:

Queen - Virgin Radio Queen Day Set

(Very rare and complete set of all seven Virgin Radio
Queen Day 12" singles) 1996.
£5,995

Jimi Hendrix - The Cry of Love

(Red vinyl test pressing) 1971.
£3,950

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

(Japanese release, ‘reversed sleeve’) 1973.
£1,995

The Who - Who Did It!

(Mail-order only, withdrawn shor tly after issue) 1970.
£1,195

The Beatles - Yesterday And Today

(Paste-over “Butchers” sleeve) 1966.
£995

5 collectible jazz albums, as compiled by 991’s

resident jazz expert Richard Wilson
Hank Mobley - Poppin' LP
This one ticks all the right boxes for the Blue Note collector. A
previously unreleased 1957 Hank session pressed on high quality
vinyl exclusively for the Japanese market.
£295

Wolfgang Dauner/ Hans Koller Octet - Jazz-Studio LP

Cult European jazz on the Saba label. German-only release.
£195

Jazz Couriers - The Couriers Of Jazz LP

Features the two frontline tenors of Ronnie Scott and Tubby
Hayes locking horns in a top recording date for Carlton.
£195

Dizzy Reece - Asia Minor LP

Outside of his classic Blue Note work, This is considered one of
Dizzy’s finest.
£95

Gigi Gryce & Donald Byrd - New Formulas From The Jazz
Lab LP
Lovely Japanese-only sleeve design.
£65
TIPS FOR COLLECTORS
Go for stuff you like and take good care of it
– both sleeves and vinyl.

Scratches are a definite no-no.

If you're hoping to sell for a profit, don't put

your name on covers.

You can play the records but it's best to keep

them in pristine condition.

You can't go wrong with the classics such as

Elvis and the Stones.

Look for limited editions or extras such as

artwork – not everything from collectible
artists is collectible or worth money.

For more information visit

www.991.com

Photo: John Shepherd-Jones

 InspiredDesign

Goldman 25hours Hotel, Frankfurt

Goldman 25hours, as the name suggests, offers a unique, nightclub-inspired experience to guests. Before
lending his name to this quirky boutique hotel, Ardi Goldman was known as a ‘visionary force’ on the Frankfur t
nightlife scene, and this stunning conversion of the old Henninger Hof complex has cemented that reputation.
The realising of Goldman’s vision for 25hours has combined a mix of pop culture and ar t references with classic
vintage design.
The hotel combines luxurious accommodation and leisure: its popular location and funky interior promise a
good night out as well as a good night’s sleep. There are 49 guest rooms over seven colour-themed floors,
inviting guests to engage with “a spiritual-mental climate”. The finishes throughout echo the hotel’s eccentric
luxury, with an emphasis on local design. Frankfur t ar tists Delphine Buhro and Michael Dreher have used
furnishings by Swedish design firm Snowcrash and lamps from Flos to create the innovative style mix, which
sees vintage tapestry alongside modern wall treatments.
Goldman 25 Hours is a member of Design Hotels™ – for bookings go to www.designhotels.com

Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com

Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com
InspiredDesign

Hotel Josef, Prague

Located near the old Jewish quar ter, the two houses (Orange and Pink) that form Hotel Josef in Prague, have been
integrated perfectly into a peaceful, landscaped cour tyard. Not surprisingly Eva Jiricna’s breathtaking design has
picked up awards and is a thoroughly contemporary statement, building on the 20th century tradition of modern
Czech design. Stone-clad bathrooms with glass par tition walls add a sense of style to the comfor table bedrooms,
which are fully equipped with the latest technology. A business centre and a gym complete the sophisticated
environment, making the hotel an instant attraction in Prague’s growing business and tourist economy.

Hotel Josef is a member of Design Hotels™ – for bookings go to www.designhotels.com

Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com
Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com
 Tjinder Singh is the lead singer, songwriter and producer of the
band described by The Times as a ‘British institution’, Cornershop.
Tjinder has been releasing music since 1993, and incorporates a
wide range of genres in his songwriting including 60’s guitars, hip
hop, Punjabi folk, and funk. The band have collaborated with a
diverse range of ar tists including beat poet Allen Ginsberg, Noel
Gallagher and Otis Clay and have been championed by the likes
of John Peel, Jarvis Cocker and David Byrne. In the live arena they
have toured extensively in mainland Europe and the US with the
likes of Beck and Oasis. They are best known for their 1997 song
Brimful of Asha, which was remixed by Fatboy Slim and subsequently
re-released, reaching No 1 in the UK char ts in 1998.
Cornershop’s new album Cornershop and the Double O Groove
Of features Bubbley Kaur’s Punjabi vocals throughout and was
released on 14th March.

RETROSPECTIVE
cornershop
If you could live anywhere in the world,
where would it be and why?
Well I always liked Denmark for its way of
living and its people, but Brittany in France also
seems to have the most friendly and welcoming
of denizens and it’s a bit warmer than London
– but not too hot. I sometimes wonder if I’m an
Indian at all.

What do you collect?

Records, second-hand books, turntables and
headphones.

Do you have a 20th century hero or idol?

William Morris of the Ar ts and Craft Movement
– a solid leftwinger, thinker and do-er.

What is your favourite film of all time?

The Par ty starring Peter Sellers and Claudine
Photo: Marie Remy Longet.
What was your first job? How
much did you earn?
Working as a paper delivery boy. I
can’t remember what I earned, but it
was enjoyable.
What’s your favourite book of all
time and why?
Today the Struggle by Mervyn
Jones. A lovely depiction of characters
in London over a few generations and
the roll-off consequences of those that
have gone before.
What’s your favourite drink?
Red wine and Panda cola.
Which career would you have
most likely have followed if you
weren’t doing what you are today?
A job in IT. I had a graduate
recruitment for ICL computers
but deferred it a year, in
which time Fujitsu took over the
company and stopped graduate
recruitment…before you know
it I’m here.

Do you have a favourite song? What was your first love?

Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey) Ahhh, cricket.
because it’s Cur tis [Mayfield] at his
most austere and best. What is your proudest
achievement?
Give us a record to get the place The first WOG [Western Oriental
jumping: Gentleman] on the moon.
Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey).
If you could live in any decade,
And one record to chill to: which one, and why?
Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey). In the 70s, because I already do.

What’s your favourite street Have you ever splashed the cash
market? on something big?
Golborne Road, London. I rather stupidly bought a very nice
vintage Peugeot bike, thinking I may
What’s your favourite vintage/ travel around France in it, never did,
retro shop? and my father-in-law sold it before I
Ribbons & Taylor, in Stoke Newington. had ever ridden it.

What’s your all time favourite TV Is there one thing you want to do
show? before you depart the stage?
The Paper Chase or The Red Have a word with the stage secretary.
Hand Gang.

For more information visit www.cornershop.com

Photo: Roger Sargent, at Dishoom
 @RetroMagazine
www.theretrocollective.com